You can't pretend it was the same then as it is now mate. We're in for a different type of player now. Keita, VVD and Alisson were coveted players for whom we have had to pay big fees and to see off competitors for their signature. Now the fact we were able to get them may be in part down to the manager and the kudos he brings to the club but also, there has (without a shadow of a doubt) been a shift in policy with regards to the types of player (and the fees the club are willing to pay) we're going for now. We weren't in for that type of player a few years ago. Yes a lot of money was squandered but how much of that can be attributed to a very speculative transfer policy where we often bugged out of the bidding for a player the moment another bidder joined the party. Just look at the way Chelse gazumped us for Salah first time around and then again for Willian. Hell we even missed out on the mighty Clint Dempsey because the owners wouldn't sanction the outlay. Thankfully the penny seems to have dropped at last.
Of course it's not the same mate, we had to rebuild, and that took time, probably longer than the owners envisaged it would.
But let's go back and make a couple of comparisons.
KK wanted Carroll, Adam and Downing, Comolli wanted Suarez and Henderson and Couts, and we ended up getting all of them, 3 of whom were a waste of money.
Another great example would be BR wanting Benteke, when the TC wanted Firmino, and we know how that turned out.
I don't think there's been a change of policy as such, more a change in how the manager works, and doesn't see transfers as his "fief" so to speak.
Remember Klopp wasn't convinced about Salah, but he spoke with the TC, worked with them, and agreed to get him in.
That. for me, is the key difference now.
Instead of the manager and TC pulling in different directions, they are all pulling in the same direction - it makes a big difference.
Ok, we can also talk about Mike Gordon streamlining various processes, and Edwards being promoted, but it's all the result of a unified team working together to get the best we can.
Obviously, Klopp's name and CL football help as well, but the collegiate way of working (rather than BR's alleged confrontational style) is a huge factor.